Learning how to prune a cedar tree is not as complicated as it may seem. Cedar trees have long been used around the world for everything from home decorations and pest control to ornamental woodworking. While there are many styles of cedar that fall into different categories, all cedars have two common branches that grow out of the main trunk. These branches, or planks, are what people are most familiar with, but there are a few other terms that you will want to become familiar with if you are learning how to prune a cedar tree.
There are five distinct types of cedar that are classified according to how they grow, or their growth habits in relation to each other. These are true cedars, barberry cedars, flaxseed cedars, douglas fir cedars, and redwood cedars. All of these have branches that grow in four distinct directions:
True cedars are not actually cedars at all; they are actually a deciduous shrub or tree that produces berries in the spring. These trees do not have true leaves. True cedars are the most common type of tree in North America, and they can be found in every state but Alaska. They tend to have straight, thin branches that grow in fours and fives. In order to prune a tree in this category, you need to remove a number of the center nodes on the tree. If you are unable to do this, you should not attempt to prune the tree, because the center nodes will regrow, and new tree topping branches will likely block the cut.
Barberry cedars are similar to true cedars, but they have hairier branches that grow in tightly packed fours. As with true cedars, the process of how to prune a barberry cedar tree is basically the same as with other cedars. You should remove any dead or damaged branches by pruning off their center nodes. This will leave a few long, thin branches to support the trunk. Do not worry about making these branches short or weak. If you do, the tree will not grow properly.
Usually, most tree pruning problems occur when people prune too early. If you plan to keep your tree healthy, you should wait until new growth has formed and the old growth is over. New growth will push out old growth, which pruning can help facilitate.
Cedar pruning often occurs with old, established branches. When you prune, you should make sure to do so at the proper times. There are two common times for cedars to produce new growth: spring growth in the spring and summer growth around the year’s end.
Spring growth is best done in the early spring when the temperature is warm. In the fall, the true cedars will produce new growth at the end of the growing season. Summer growth is usually achieved in the winter. Therefore, it is important to choose the correct time of year to prune your tree.
New growth will push up the crown of the cedar, allowing more room for new branches to grow. Older, established branches should be removed to promote lateral growth. You can learn more about pruning a cedar tree by visiting the Online Cedar Garden Trees page. This site offers a lot of information on trees, pruning, maintenance, and species-specific info.
The main thing to remember with pruning is that only new growth should be pruned. Trimming old growth may appear attractive, but it is often difficult to do and can damage the tree. This can even lead to the death of the tree through sickness or improper care. When you are learning how to prune a cedar tree, you need to pay special attention to the new growth, which should be pruned.
Dead zones are areas where new growth appears to be pushing against and potentially ripping off already damaged and weak branches. If you find dead zone in your cedar tree, it is recommended to clear the area by cutting away some of the dead wood. However, keep in mind that if you trim too much away, the branches may not be able to support the extra weight. The best thing to do is make a cut in the dead zone, and then continue along healthy branch over to the healthy side.
Some other problems with how to prune a cedar tree involve crooked or hooked branches. This can actually cause branch failure, so be sure that none of your branches are hooked or curved. To correct crooked branches, you will need to cut them at an angle, or remove some of their rings and nodes. Narrowing the true cedars out can cause problems in the future, as well, because the narrow width of the branches makes them susceptible to damage from different weather conditions. Cedar is one of the hardest woods to work with, so always remember to take the time to properly prune your tree.
